Valve connection for gas or other meters.



No. 637,505. Patented Nov.'2l, I899.

' J. FRANKLIN.

VALVE CONNECTION FOR GAS OR OTHER METERS.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1699.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES JOHN FRANKLIN, OF NORWOOD, OHIO.

VALVE CONNECTION FOR GAS OR OTHER METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,505, dated November21, 1899.

Application filed August 28, 1899. Serial No. 728,781. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it puny concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ValveConnections for Gas or other Meters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improve.

ments in gas-meter connections, such as are especially employed forconnecting meters with the street service-pipes; and the object of theinvention is to provide a connection adapted for use with one or morehouse service-pipes with gas from a single street service-pipe, theconstruction of the device being such that any or all of the said houseservicepipes may be readily disconnected from the street service-pipe tostop the supply of gas thereto without necessitating the removal of theimproved connection from the street service-pipe.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the improvedconnection, whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and moreconvenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 isa view drawn to a small scale and showing a connection embodying myimprovements arranged for supplying two house service-pipes from asingle street service-pipe. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through theconnection, showing the three-way valve therein and the means forcoupling the meters and the street servicepipe thereto. Fig. 3 is a viewdrawn to a larger scale and showing in sectional elevation the means forstopping the flow of gas from the street service-pipe to either or bothof the house service-pipes. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the improvedconnection, the view being taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

In the views, 1 indicates a street servicepipe, and 2 and 3 representseparate meters,

each connected to a house service'pipe, these pipes being marked 4 and5, respectively.

These house service-pipes. may be employed either one for a lighting andthe other for an independent heating or fuel system, or may be both usedindependently either for heating or lighting purposes. In either caseeach meter will register the volume of gas supplied through itsparticular house service-pipe.

. Each meter 2 and 3 is provided with a gooseneck for coupling it withthe street-servicepipe connection, the meter connections 9 between thegoosenecks and the house servicepipes 4 and 5 being unions made in theordinary well-known form. Thegoosenecks are made of two sections 6 and 7of metal pipe, joined, as shown at 8, by means of a wipe or other joint,the meter-section 6 being made curved and being formed of stiif metalpipe, as copper or brass, for example, and the pendant longer section 7being made from some pliable metal, as lead, so that it may be bentsufficiently to bring its end, which is also provided with a union 10,in position to be coupled to the street-service-pipe connection.Indicated as a whole by 11 in the drawings. The sections 6 and 7- of thegooseneck are both made curved or bent, as shown in Fig. 1, in theprocess of manufacture, and both ends thereof being provided with unions9 and 10 it will be obvious that the gooseneck may be quickly and easilyremoved from connection with both the meter and the service-pipeconnection 11, so as to afford free access to the service-pipe for theremoval of obstructions. Heretofore the gooseneck connection hasordinarily been permanently connected with the service-pipe connection,and in case of obstruction of the service-pipe it has been customary touncouple the gooseneck from the meter and bend it upright to affordaccess to the service-pipe; but in bending the lead gooseneck the softmetal of which it is composed often buckles, so as to damage theconnection. This objection is avoided by my improved gooseneck, sincethere is no need of bending the leaden arm thereof after the connectionhas been made with the meter.

The shell of the connection 11 is made in general rounded form, havingat its lower part a nipple 12 to receive the end of the streetservice-pipe 1 and at one side a similar nipple 13 to receive the end ofapipe 14., which extends horizontally and has at its end an elbowconnection 15 to receive the union 10 at the end of the gooseneck of onemeter, as 3. The shell or casing 11 also has at its upper part a nipple16 to receive the union 10 at the lower end of the gooseneck of theother meter, and in the said shell or casing 11 is formed a chamber inwhich fits and turns a hollow three-way plug or valve 17, two ports 21and 23 of which are diametrically opposite each other and are adapted tocorrespond,

when the valve is turned, with the nipples 12 and 16 of the streetservice-pipe 1 and the gooseneck of meter 2, while the other port 22 ofsaid valve is midway between the ports 21 and 23 and is adapted tocorrespond, when the valve is turned, as shown in Fig. 2, with thenipple 13, through which the other meter 3 is supplied with gas. By thisconstruction and arrangement it will be seen that both meters 2 and 3may be supplied from the single street service-pipe 1 by turning thevalve 17 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and also by turning said valvea half-rotation from the position shown in said figure the meter 3 maybe out 01f, leaving the meter 2 connected for service with the street,service-pipe 1. By turning the valve one-quarter of a full rotation fromthe position shown in Fig. 2 the connection with meter 2 may be cut off,while that with meter 3 will be reestablished, and by a threequarterturn 011 the valve from the position shown in Fig. 2 both meters 2 and 3may be out 0% from the street service-pipe. The valve 17 has one endprojected outside the casing, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, andprovided with a handle 18, by means of which the valve may be turned,and the projecting end of the Valve is also provided, as shown at 19 inFig. 3, with properly-located indexmarks to register with marks on thecasing to indicate the several positions of the valve. The shell orcasing of the connection 11 is also formed between the nipples l3 and 16with an integral lug or projection 24, having an opening 25 adapted forthe passage of a padlock-hasp or the like, such hasp or bow beingpreferably made to fit snugly in said opening, as indicated at 27 inFig. 3, and the lug or projection has at one side of said opening 25 aniche or recess 26, adapted to receive a wire seal 33, as shown in Fig.3, without interfering with the ready insertion and removal of thepadlock-hasp 27. This lug or projection is adapted to operate inconnection with devices carried by fittings adapted for engagement withthe nipples 13 and 16 of the shell or casing to permit such fittings tobe locked in position by means of either a lock or seal, or by both, sothat the escape or discharge of gas from the street service-pipe aftereither or both the meters 2 and 3 have been removed is effectuallyprevented. A lug or projection 24 similar to the lug 24 is also providedon the casing 11 between the nipples 13 and 12 and serves topermitfittings to be locked when connected to these nipples. Byproviding the two lugs or projections it will be seen that the casing 11of the connection is made reversible, so as to better adapt it for use.

The plug 28 is employed for closing the nipple 16 of casing 11 when themeter 2 has been removed, and this plug or fitting is made in the formof an interiorly-screw-threaded cap screwing on said nipple, as shown inFig. 3, and having at its central part a headed pin or stud 29, on whichis held a swiveled locking-arm 31, having one end flattened and providedwith a perforation 30 for the passage of the body portion of the pin orstud 29 beneath the head thereof, so as to hold the arm 31 to turn uponthe cap or plug 28, the other end 32 of said arm being curved or bentdown and flattened in a plane at right angles to the swiveled end of thearm to permit it to fit flush against one side of the lug 24 of casing11 or against one side of the lug 24 in case the shell or easing beinverted. The extremity 34 of said curved end of the arm is made roundedand is provided with an opening 35, corresponding in size and form tothe opening 25 of lug 24, for the passage of the hasp 27, and is alsoformed with a niche or recess 36 for the passage of a Wire seal 33 whenthe hasp is in place. The stud or pin 29 is passed through the centralpart of the cap or plug 28 and is riveted or enlarged inside the same,as shown at 29, in order to secure it in place on the cap or plug.

The cap or plug 28 is made with a polygonal or fiat-sided body to permitthe ready application of a wrench for screwingit upon the nipple 16, andwhen itis desired to disconnect the meter 2 it is only necessary, afterproperly setting the valve 17, to remove the union 10 from said nippleand apply and screw thereon the cap or plug, the swivel-arm 31turningfreely topermitthis to be done. When the plug or cap 28 is inplace, the arm 31 is turned around until its flattened extremity 34 isflush with the lug or projection 24, after which the padlock-hasp andseal-wire, or either, are passed through the corresponding openings tolock and seal the connection against unauthorized tampering. A similarmeans is provided for use in cutting off the meter 3 independently ofthe meter 2 or in connection therewith, the one lug or projection 24 anda single lock and seal serving to secure both plugs or caps. The plug 37for cutting off the meter 3 is made to screw into the nipple 13 of thecasing or shell 11 and has a flange 38 to fit on the nipple when screwedhome and a polygonal or flat-sided head 39 to receive a wrench wherebyit may be applied and removed. The head 39 is also provided with aheaded pin or stud 40, on which is held to turn a swiveled part or arm41, similar to the arm 31, and provided with a curved and flattened end42, the extremity 43 of which is adapted to fit flush against the sideof the lug or projection 24 opposite to the arm 31 of plug or cap 28 andis similarly perforated for the passage of the padlock-hasp andseal-wire. By this means it will be seen that the improved connectionpermits of su pplying from a single street service-pipe independentmeter systems, which may be respectively employed for heating andlighting or otherwise, and at the same time either or both of the metersmay be readily cut off and the connection locked and sealed withoutnecessitatin g the removal of the connection from the streetservice-pipe or interfering in any way with the remaining meter wherebut one of the meters is cut off. When desired, also, the gooseneok maybe locked against detachment from the connection 11 or elbow 15 by themeans shown in Fig. l and comprising arms or parts .45, swiveled uponthe goosenecks'above the unions 10 and having downwardly-bent endportions 44 for engagement with lugs or projections 46 upon casing 11and fitting 15, respectively, said end portions 44 and lugs 46 beingperforated for the passage of a padlock-hasp 27 or seal-wire, as will bereadily understood. In a similar way swiveled parts 48 are provided uponthe opposite ends of the goosenecks held to turn above the unions 9 andhaving depending end portions 47 adapted to correspond with lugs orprojections 49 upon the sides of the meter-casings, said lugs 49 and theend portions 47 being perforated for the passage of the hasp 27 andseal-wire to permit the connections between the goosenecks and themeters to be locked and sealed.

From the above description it will be seen that the device constructedaccording to my invention is of an extremely simple and inexpensivenature and is especially well adapted for use, since it permits all ofthe main connections to be looked and sealed against tampering whendesirable, and it will also be obvious from the above description thatthe device is capable of some modification without material departurefrom the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this rea; son Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form andarrangement of the several parts herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination of a street service-pipe, twometershaving goosenecks provided with stiff meter-sections and pliantsections, a casing connected to the street service-pipe and also to thepliant sections of the respective goosenecks and a three-way valvecontrolling the flow of gas from the street service-pipe through thecasing to the goosenecks, substantially as set forth.

2. A three-way meter connection comprisin g a casing having nipples toreceive a street service-pipe and two meter connections, a three-wayvalve controlling the flow of gas through the casing, plugs to out OKthe meters, swiveled arms held by the plugs, and a projection on thecasing with which the swiveled arms are adapted to correspond, said armsand projection being correspondingly perforated for the passage of apadlock-hasp or the like, substantially as set forth.

3. A meter connection comprising a casing having a nipple to receive afitting and provided with a perforated projection, a fitting forengagement with said nipple and a perforated arm swiveled on the fittingwith its opening adapted to correspond with that of the projection ofthe casing for the passage of a padlock-hasp, or the like, substantiallyas set forth.

4. A gooseneck connection for meters formed of a curved stifi metalmeter-section and a pliant metal section joined thereto, andunion-couplings held on opposite ends of said gooseneck connection,substantially as set forth.

5. A three-way meter connection comprising a casing provided with alug'having three nipples, one to receive a street service-pipe, theother two nipples being each adapted to receive a fitting connecting itwith a meter, or closing it against the passage of gas, fittings forengagement with said last-mentioned two nipples, a three-way valvecontrolling the fiow of gas through the casing and a device pivoted onone of the fittings and having means to receive a locking device whereby it may be locked to the lug of the casing, substantially as setforth.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a streetservice-pipe, a casing having two nipples one connected to the streetservice-pipe and the other adapted to receive a fitting connecting thecasin g with a meter or closing the nipple against the passage of gas,the said fitting, and two parts, one carried by the fitting and theother carried by the casing, said parts being adapted, when the fittingis in place, to correspond with each other and to receive a lockingdevice for holding the fitting to the casing, substantially as setforth.

Signed by me at Cincinnati, State of Ohio, this 25th day of August,1899.

JOHN FRANKLIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAS JONES, J. D. THORNE.

